ish　beneath　the　sword；〃　cried　Pang　De。

He　reviled　his　captors　without　ceasing　till；　losing　patience　at　last；　Guan　Yu　sent　him　to　his　death。　Pang　De　was　beheaded。　He　stretched　out　his　neck　for　the　headsman's　sword。　Out　of　pity　he　was　honorably　buried。

The　floods　were　still　out；　and　taking　advantage　of　them；　the　troops　of　Jingzhou　boarded　the　boats　to　move　toward　Fancheng；　which　now　stood　out　as　a　mere　island　with　waves　breaking　against　the　walls。

The　force　of　the　waters　being　great；　the　city　wall　was　beginning　to　give　way；　and　the　whole　population；　male　and　female；　aged　and　young；　were　carrying　mud　and　bricks　to　strengthen　it。　Their　efforts　seemed　vain；　and　the　leaders　of　Cao　Cao's　army　were　very　desperate。

Some　of　the　generals　went　to　see　Cao　Ren；　who　said；　〃No　ordinary　person's　strength　can　fend　off　today's　danger。　If　we　can　hold　out　till　nightfall；　we　may　escape　by　boat。　We　shall　lose　the　city；　but　we　shall　save　our　skins。〃

But　Man　Chong　interposed　before　the　boats　could　be　got　ready。

He　said；　〃No！　No！　Though　the　force　of　these　mountainous　waters　is　great；　we　only　have　to　wait　ten　days　or　so；　and　the　flood　will　have　passed。　Though　Guan　Yu　has　not　assaulted　this　city；　yet　he　has　sent　another　army　to　Jiaxia；　which　indicates　he　dares　not　advance　lest　we　should　fall　upon　his　rear。　Remember；　too；　that　to　retire　from　this　city　means　the　abandonment　of　everything　south　of　the　Yellow　River。　Therefore　I　decide　that　you　defend　this　place。〃

Cao　Ren　saluted　Man　Chong　as　he　concluded　his　harangue；　saying；　〃What　a　tremendous　error　I　should　have　mitted　had　it　not　been　for　you；　Sir！〃

Then　riding　his　white　charger　he　went　up　on　the　city　walls；　gathered　his　officers　around　him；　and　pledged　himself　not　to　surrender。

〃The　Pri